Method and apparatus for improved bra

ABSTRACT

A bra including first and second breast portion each having a top and a bottom, and a junction section which is substantially smaller than the first and second breast portions. In at least one embodiment, the junction section connects the top of the first breast portion to the top of the second breast portion, and there is an open area from the junction section to the bottom of the first and second breast portions; and the open area is substantially greater than the junction section. The bra may further include first, second, third, and fourth straps, which are connected at their first ends to left side at the top of the first breast portion, right side at the top of the first breast portion, left side at the top of the second breast portion, and right side at the top of the second breast portion, respectively.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerningbras.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various devices known in the prior art for bras.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a bracomprising a first breast portion having a top and a bottom, a secondbreast portion having a top and a bottom, and a junction section whichis substantially smaller than the first breast portion and the secondbreast portion. In at least one embodiment, the junction sectionconnects the top of the first breast portion to the top of the secondbreast portion, and there is an open area from the junction section tothe bottom of the first breast portion and the second breast portion,and the open area is substantially greater than the junction section.

The bra may further include a first strap, which is connected at itsfirst end to a left side at the top of the first breast portion, asecond strap which is connected at its first end to a right side at thetop of the first breast portion, a third strap which is connected at itsfirst end to a left side at the top of the second breast portion, and afourth strap which is connected at its first end to a right side at thetop of the second breast portion.

The first strap may have a second end which is opposite its first end,and wherein the first strap is connected at its second end to a secondend of the second strap, wherein the second end of the second strap isopposite its first end. The third strap may have a second end which isopposite its first end, and wherein the third strap is connected at itssecond end to a second end of the fourth strap, wherein the second endof the fourth strap is opposite its first end.

In at least one embodiment a method is provided which includes placing abra on a woman's body, wherein the bra includes a first breast portionhaving a top and a bottom, a second breast portion having a top and abottom, and a junction section which is substantially smaller than thefirst breast portion and the second breast portion; and wherein thejunction section connects the top of the first breast portion to the topof the second breast portion, there is an open area from the junctionsection to the bottom of the first breast portion and the second breastportion, and the open area is substantially greater than the junctionsection. The bra may have other features as previously described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a first bra in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of a second bra in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of a prior art bra placed on amodel; and

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of a third bra in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention placed on the model of FIG.3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a bra 1 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. The bra 1 includes underwires 2 aand 2 b, cups 4 a and 4 b, coverage areas 6 a and 6 b, straps 8 a and 8b, junction 10, bra bands 12 a and 12 b, bra straps 14 a and 14 b, brastraps 16 a and 16 b, underwires 18 a and 18 b, bra wings 20 a and 20 b,hooks 22 a and 22 b, arm openings 24 a and 24 b, openings 26 a and 26 b,strap portions 28 a and 28 b, and a gap 30.

In order to wear the bra 1, a woman would put her right arm through theopening 24 a, put her left arm through the opening 24 b, and attach hook22 a to hook 22 b around her back. With the right and left arm insertedthrough the openings 24 a and 24 b, respectively, and the hooks 22 a and22 b connected around the woman's back, the strap portions 28 a and 28 bshould be made to rest on the woman's right and left shoulders,respectively, and the woman's right and left breasts should be placed inthe cups 4 a and 4 b, respectively.

The bra 1 includes a gap or open area 30, which is substantially largerthan the junction section 10. The double strap configuration on eachside, i.e. straps 8 a and 14 a on one side and straps 8 b and 14 b onthe other side, allow the use of a small and/or narrow junction 10 tojoin the right side or cup 4 a with the left side or cup 4 b, whichallows the formation of the gap 30. The gap 30 prevents the bra 1 fromcontacting a scar or stitches from a surgery, or from contacting aninjured or sensitive area on the body of a woman who is wearing the bra1. FIG. 4 demonstrates the use of a gap similar or identical to gap 30,with a bra 254 which may be or may be replaced by a bra similar oridentical to bra 1.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of a bra 100 in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention. The bra 100 may include brabands 104 a and 104 b, bra cups 102 a and 102 b, bra straps 108 a and108 b, bra straps 110 a and 110 b, hooks 112 a and 112 b, junction 114,gap 116, and may have openings 118 a and 118 b.

In order to wear the bra 100, a woman would put her right arm throughthe opening 118 a, put her left arm through the opening 118 b, andattach hook 112 a to hook 112 b around her back. With the right and leftarm inserted through the openings 118 a and 118 b, respectively, and thehooks 112 a and 112 b connected around the woman's back, the strapportions 120 a and 120 b should be made to rest on the woman's right andleft shoulders, respectively, and the woman's right and left breastsshould be placed in the cups 102 a and 102 b, respectively.

The bra 100 includes a gap 116. The double strap configuration on eachside, i.e. straps 110 a and 108 a on one side and straps 108 b and 110 bon the other side, allow the use of a small and/or narrow junction 114to join the right side or cup 102 a with the left side or cup 102 b,which allows the formation of the gap 116. The gap 116 prevents the bra100 from contacting a scar or stitches from a surgery, or fromcontacting an injured or sensitive area on the body of a woman who iswearing the bra 100. FIG. 4 demonstrates the use of a gap similar oridentical to gap 116, with a bra 254 which may be or may be replaced bya bra similar or identical to bra 100.

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of a prior art bra 204 placed on amodel 202 representing the body of a woman. The bra 204 may includestraps 204 a and 204 b, and portion 204 c. The portion 204 c, at leastpartially makes contact with and overlaps a substantially vertical scar206 and stiches 208 a and 208 b. The stitches 208 a and 208 b may bepart of a plurality of stitches 208. The bra portion 204 c is shown in asee through or transparent mode in FIG. 3, however, typically the braportion 204 c would cover the stitches 208 a and 208 b and part of thescar 206 c, so that the stitches 208 a and 208 b and part of the scar206 c would not be able to be seen. The straps 204 a and 204 b areplaced over shoulders 202 a and 202 b of the model 202.

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of a bra 254 in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention placed on the model 202. Thebra 254 includes straps 258 a and 258 b, straps 260 a and 260 b, cups256 a and 256 b, junction 262, bands 264 a and 264 b, and has gap 266.The bra 254 may include any of the features and/or aspects of the bras 1and 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, but which may not be shown inFIG. 4. For example, the bra 254 may include hooks, not shown, similaror identical to hooks 22 a and 22 b of FIG. 1, for attaching the bra 254behind a woman's back. The bra 254 may also include straps similar oridentical to straps 16 a and 16 b, and openings similar or identical toopenings 24 a and 24 b shown in FIG. 1.

A woman may put in right and left arms through openings, not shown,similar or identical to openings 24 a and 24 b of FIG. 1, for bra 254,and then connect hooks, not shown, similar or identical to hooks 22 aand 22 b of FIG. 1, for bra 254. The hooks for bra 254 would be attachedto the bands 264 a and 264 b. The bra 254 has a narrow and/or smalljunction 262 which allows for a gap or open area 266, which issubstantially larger than the small junction 262, and which prevents orinhibits the scar 206 and stitches 208 a and 208 b from coming incontact with the bra 254. In FIG. 4, the junction 262, in at least oneembodiment, is configured to be above the top of the breasts of thewoman that the bra 254 is placed on. This configuration avoids contactof the junction 262 and of the bra 254 with scars and or stitches thatresult from various surgeries.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particularillustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of theinvention may become apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to include within this patent all such changes andmodifications as may reasonably and properly be included within thescope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

1. A bra comprising: a first strap having a first end and an opposingsecond end; a second strap having a first end and an opposing secondend; a third strap having a first end and an opposing second end; afourth strap having a first end and an opposing second end; a first cup;a second cup; a first strap portion; a second strap portion; wherein thefirst end of the first strap and the first end of the second strap areconnected together at the first strap portion; wherein the first end ofthe third strap and the first end of the fourth strap are connectedtogether at the second strap portion; wherein the second end of thefirst strap and the second end of the second strap are spaced apart fromeach other and the first cup is between the second end of the firststrap and the second end of the second strap; wherein the second end ofthe third strap and the second end of the fourth strap are spaced apartfrom each other and the second cup is between the second end of thethird strap and the second end of the fourth strap; wherein the firststrap portion is spaced apart from the first cup; and wherein the secondstrap portion is spaced apart from the second cup.
 2. The bra of claim 1wherein the first strap portion is configured to rest on a firstshoulder of a woman while a first breast of the woman is located in thefirst cup, and simultaneously the second strap portion is configured torest on a second shoulder of the woman while a second breast of thewoman is located in the second cup.
 3. The bra of claim 1 furthercomprising a first opening located in a region delineated by the thefirst strap, the second strap, and the first cup; and a second openinglocated in a region delineated by the third strap, the fourth strap, andthe second cup.
 4. A method comprising connecting a first end of a firststrap of a bra and a first end of a second strap of the bra at a firststrap portion of the bra; connecting a first end of a third strap of thebra and a first end of a fourth strap of the bra at a second strapportion of the bra; connecting a second end of the first strap, which isopposite the first end of the first strap, and a second end of thesecond strap, which is opposite the first end of the second strap, to afirst cup of the bra so that the second end of the first strap and thesecond end of the second strap are spaced apart and the first cup isbetween the second end of the first strap and the second end of thesecond strap, and spaced apart from the first strap portion; andconnecting a second end of the third strap, which is opposite the firstend of the third strap, and a second end of the fourth strap, which isopposite the first end of the fourth strap, to a second cup of the braso that the second end of the third strap and the second end of thefourth strap are spaced apart and the second cup is between the secondend of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap, andspaced apart from the second strap portion.
 5. The method of claim 4further comprising placing the bra on a body of a woman, so that thefirst strap portion rests on a first shoulder of the woman, the secondstrap portion rests on a second shoulder of the woman, a first breast ofthe woman is inserted inside the first cup, and a second breast of thewoman is inserted in the second cup.
 6. The method of claim 5 whereinthere is a first opening located in a region delineated by the firststrap, the second strap, and the first cup; and there is a secondopening located in a region delineated by the third strap, the fourthstrap, and the second cup.
 7. The bra of claim 1 wherein the firststrap, the second strap, and the first cup delineate a first triangularregion; and the third strap, the fourth strap, and the second cupdelineate a second triangular region.
 8. The bra of claim 7 wherein thefirst triangular region has three vertices and the second triangularregion has three vertices, and only one of the three vertices of thefirst triangular region is in common with only one of the three verticesof the second triangular region.
 9. The method of claim 4 wherein thefirst strap, the second strap, and the first cup delineate a firsttriangular region; and the third strap, the fourth strap, and the secondcup delineate a second triangular region.
 10. The method of claim 9wherein the first triangular region has three vertices and the secondtriangular region has three vertices, and only one of the three verticesof the first triangular region is in common with only one of the threevertices of the second triangular region.
 11. The bra of claim 1 whereinthe bra includes a first closed loop which is defined by the first strapportion, the first strap, the first cup, a first bra band, and a fifthstrap, wherein the first strap portion is connected to the first strap,the first strap is connected to the first cup, the first cup isconnected to the first bra band, the first bra band is connected to thefifth strap, and the fifth strap is connected to the first strap portionto form the first closed loop; wherein the fifth strap has a lengthwhich is about equal to a combined length of the first strap and thefirst cup; wherein the bra includes a second closed loop which isdefined by the second strap portion, the third strap, the second cup, asecond bra band, and a sixth strap, wherein the second strap portion isconnected to the third strap, the third strap is connected to the secondcup, the second cup is connected to the second bra band, the second braband is connected to the sixth strap, and the sixth strap is connectedto the second strap portion to form the second closed loop; and whereinthe sixth strap has a length which is about equal to a combined lengthof the third strap and the second cup.
 12. The bra of claim 11 whereinthe first strap has a length which is about half the length of the fifthstrap; and the third strap has a length which is about half the lengthof the sixth strap.
 13. The bra of claim 1 wherein the first strap comesin contact with the first cup at only the second end of the first strap,the second strap comes in contact with the first cup at only the secondend of the second strap, the third strap comes in contact with thesecond cup at only the second end of the third strap, and the fourthstrap comes in contact with the second cup at only the second end of thefourth strap.
 14. The bra of claim 1 wherein the second end of the firststrap and the second end of the second strap are connected to the firstcup so that a majority of the first cup lies below a first straight linewhich includes the second end of the first strap and the second end ofthe second strap, when the bra is worn by a woman standing in an uprightposition, such that a first breast of the woman is in the first cup, asecond breast of the woman is in the second cup, the first strap portionis on a first shoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is ona second shoulder of the woman; and wherein the second end of the thirdstrap and the second end of the fourth strap are connected to the secondcup so that a majority of the second cup lies below a second straightline which includes the second end of the third strap and the second endof the fourth strap, when the bra is worn by the woman standing in anupright position, such that the first breast of the woman is in thefirst cup, the second breast of the woman is in the second cup, thefirst strap portion is on the first shoulder of the woman, and thesecond strap portion is on the second shoulder of the woman.
 15. The braof claim 1 wherein the second end of the first strap and the second endof the second strap are connected to the first cup so that the entirefirst cup lies below a first straight line which includes the second endof the first strap and the second end of the second strap, when the brais worn by a woman standing in an upright position, such that a firstbreast of the woman is in the first cup, a second breast of the woman isin the second cup, the first strap portion is on a first shoulder of thewoman, and the second strap portion is on a second shoulder of thewoman; and wherein the second end of the third strap and the second endof the fourth strap are connected to the second cup so that the entiresecond cup lies below a second straight line which includes the secondend of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap, when thebra is worn by the woman standing in an upright position, such that thefirst breast of the woman is in the first cup, the second breast of thewoman is in the second cup, the first strap portion is on the firstshoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is on the secondshoulder of the woman.
 16. The bra of claim 1 wherein the first cup isfixed to the second cup at one and only one junction; and wherein themajority of the first cup and the majority of the second cup lie belowthe one and only one junction when the bra is worn by a woman standingin an upright position, such that a first breast of the woman is in thefirst cup, a second breast of the woman is in the second cup, the firststrap portion is on a first shoulder of the woman, and the second strapportion is on a second shoulder of the woman.
 17. The method of claim 4wherein the bra includes a first closed loop which is defined by thefirst strap portion, the first strap, the first cup, a first bra band,and a fifth strap, wherein the first strap portion is connected to thefirst strap, the first strap is connected to the first cup, the firstcup is connected to the first bra band, the first bra band is connectedto the fifth strap, and the fifth strap is connected to the first strapportion to form the first closed loop; wherein the fifth strap has alength which is about equal to a combined length of the first strap andthe first cup; wherein the bra includes a second closed loop which isdefined by the second strap portion, the third strap, the second cup, asecond bra band, and a sixth strap, wherein the second strap portion isconnected to the third strap, the third strap is connected to the secondcup, the second cup is connected to the second bra band, the second braband is connected to the sixth strap, and the sixth strap is connectedto the second strap portion to form the second closed loop; and whereinthe sixth strap has a length which is about equal to a combined lengthof the third strap and the second cup.
 18. The method of claim 14wherein the first strap has a length which is about half the length ofthe fifth strap; and the third strap has a length which is about halfthe length of the sixth strap.
 19. The method of claim 4 wherein thefirst strap comes in contact with the first cup at only the second endof the first strap, the second strap comes in contact with the first cupat only the second end of the second strap, the third strap comes incontact with the second cup at only the second end of the third strap,and the fourth strap comes in contact with the second cup at only thesecond end of the fourth strap.
 20. The method of claim 4 wherein thefirst cup is fixed to the second cup at one and only one junction; andwherein the majority of the first cup and the majority of the second cuplie below the one and only one junction when the bra is worn by a womanstanding in an upright position, such that a first breast of the womanis in the first cup, a second breast of the woman is in the second cup,the first strap portion is on a first shoulder of the woman, and thesecond strap portion is on a second shoulder of the woman.